User Feedback :: Building a Car Computer

Quote (Headly @ Aug. 07 2005,03:01)

Hi Guys, Let me start by saying what a great looking distro! I really hope I can get DSL to do what I want. I’m working on a project to build a computer for my car with the ultimate goal of hooking it to the GPS that I already have installed and using it for navigation in remote areas of Australia.  I thought rather than guessing and using trial and error to pick the best way to install DSL (for my project) I thought I’d ask the question early. The hardware (on order) I plan to use is a mini ITX motherboard with an 800 Mhz CPU and 512 Mb ram.  Due to potential vibration problems on rough roads I have opted not to use a hard disk but instead to use a 512 Mb CF card with one of those gadgets that connects it to an IDE controller.  I may or may not install CD / DVD drive depending on how small the unit comes out.  So USB or Ethernet will probably be the only way for me to get things in and out after the initial install.  I’ll be able to hook up a CD while it is on the test bench. I have read the FAQ’s and some of the documentation and I can see that there are many ways that I could approach this project.  I have been playing with DSL on my laptop and have a bit of an understanding of how it all goes together however some areas are a bit blurry but I’ll wait until I run into specific problems before I ask those questions. OK enough of the introduction and on to my questions. 1) What is the best way to boot from my IDE/CF card and load my applications? 2) Can I change the default Boot: options so that I don’t need type anything as the system starts up? 3) Should I be running from RAM (toram) so I don’t wear out my CF card in a hurry? 4) Has anyone used DSL with a touch screen instead of a mouse and an on screen keyboard when only a small amount of input is required? Any assistance is greatly appreciated. David

I am a newbie - about 4 hours old - but I have been there done some of that today....

I am using mini itx sp13000 in a car computer case.... 512mb ram 128mb CF for a hard disk

1 follow the frugal install pdf document - it worked first go - with brain in neutral. With the 128Mb CF there was TONS of room

2 - need a few more hours - but yes - you will be able to do this

3 - yes use toram BUT watch out everything loads so damn fast you will start looking at your beloved desk/game/hot machine and thinking - how come you are so slow? - toram - oh yeah

4 - not yet but thats where I am headed - for my application

this may not help - but at least you know that some one else is out there doing it - good luck - and if you get to the touch screen before me - let me know how it goes.... I am expecting to have to modify (maybe write) a usb driver for it.... how hard can that be?